Asia/Pacific News
Fujian Tanker Arrested on Second Attempt Over Bunkers Sold by OW Bunker Singapore Subsidiaries
The second time is the charm for ING Bank (ING), which has won a U.S. court order to seize Panamax bulk carrier M/V Zheng Yao belonging to Fujian Ocean Shipping Co. Ltd. (Fosco), as part of a dispute over unpaid bunkers sold by OW Bunker Singapore subsidiaries OW Bunker Far East and Dynamic Oil Trading (DOT), court documents obtained by Ship & Bunker show.
District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, of the federal court in Louisiana, ordered the 81,700 deadweight tonnage Zheng Yao to be seized to secure ING's claim of $3.42 million it is seeking from Fosco for unpaid bunkers plus associated interest, and administrative fees.
Brown denied ING's first request for seizure earlier this month, claiming its lawyers had not given ample proof that Zheng Yao Shipping, which owns the bulker, is a mere alter ego of Fosco.
In responding to the lawyers' second attempt, Brown wrote on January 7 that "the conditions for a writ of maritime attachment and garnishment appear to exist."
AIS data shows the ship is currently moored in the Mississippi River at a Zen-Noh Grain terminal in Convent, Louisiana.
As ship & Bunker reported earlier this month, ING is seeking to recover payment for bunkers deliveries to five vessels.
